BIO
There's always that feeling of TRIUMPH when a person successfully overcomes everything that was meant to destroy them - and to do it so fearlessly. It took a lot of self love, reflection and distancing myself from everyone that enabled what was my toxic and abusive past, but I did it. And the feeling is beyond that of joy. I grew up in what has become a 'typical' single-parent home. I was the fourth of five born to my mother. I had three older siblings already well past grown and then it was just me and my younger sister. I always knew that I was different from my family members. My purpose and my path stretched beyond the brokenness, toxicity, abuse and dysfunction that I witnessed and endured growing up. My mother provided for us, worked hard for everything that she had and everything that she gave us - but it was always a struggle. She was emotionally unavailable. As a child, I just remember how it was a visible distance between her and I.
I could never understand it and somehow for the longest time blamed myself. People don't really realize how critical love, nurturing, patience, compassion and understanding really is to a young mind - especially to someone who didn't receive it from those around them.
The adults in my family were not mentally or emotionally capable of giving me what I needed, the tools I should of had to be prepared and I didn't realize it until now, just how heavily it set the tone for me in my later adult years.
When you come from brokenness you create that in the world around you. You don't think much of yourself because that's what's been projected onto you by those around you and when you hear the same thing repeatedly day in and day out it becomes hopeless. I've battled depression over the years - poor self-esteem. I was conflicted for a long time about my path and which direction I should take. I grew up having such a strong passion for music, most specifically Hip-Hop / Rap music. Thanks to my older siblings I grew up listening to the sounds of; Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, the late great Tupac Shakur, Naughty By Nature, Biggie, Aaliyah .. the list goes on. And with my mother, I remember always hearing the greats; The Temptations, Earth Wind and Fire, Marvin Gaye, Minnie Riperton and Phyllis Hyman.
With all of these great artists I dove deep into the music and utilized it as my 'escape' from the reality in which I was dealt at the time. I started off with writing poetry, which to me is a form of music anyway. Eventually as a teenager, I got around other kids that were rapping and had dreams of taking it to the next level and that's ultimately where my skills began to develop. I'm forever inspired by the old school and will always continue to be. Over time, I've unearthed a 'vault' of my many other gifts and once I was able to step forward into a new direction I reconnected with myself and my purpose. . .
I'm called here to INSPIRE anyone that I can, anyone who would listen. Not only with my music but by my testimony - I have one hell of a story to tell. I'm not even out of my twenties yet, but I have an old spirit and I've been able to take all of the experiences that I've had in this short amount of time I've been here and keep hope that it'll reach someone out there who may be going through the same - no matter the age - and give them some light at the end of the tunnel.
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND TRUST!! The past never defines our lives unless we allow it to. Use it to recreate yourself and start a new cycle for yourself and kids if you have them. Create a whole new future. YOU GOT THIS and I'm right here with you all.
Until next time,
Be safe out there in this crazy world and let's normalize displaying love, compassion and kindness for others. Let's normalize having courage and praise strength. Peace.
JROSE SANTANA
I could never understand it and somehow for the longest time blamed myself. People don't really realize how critical love, nurturing, patience, compassion and understanding really is to a young mind - especially to someone who didn't receive it from those around them.
The adults in my family were not mentally or emotionally capable of giving me what I needed, the tools I should of had to be prepared and I didn't realize it until now, just how heavily it set the tone for me in my later adult years.
When you come from brokenness you create that in the world around you. You don't think much of yourself because that's what's been projected onto you by those around you and when you hear the same thing repeatedly day in and day out it becomes hopeless. I've battled depression over the years - poor self-esteem. I was conflicted for a long time about my path and which direction I should take. I grew up having such a strong passion for music, most specifically Hip-Hop / Rap music. Thanks to my older siblings I grew up listening to the sounds of; Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, the late great Tupac Shakur, Naughty By Nature, Biggie, Aaliyah .. the list goes on. And with my mother, I remember always hearing the greats; The Temptations, Earth Wind and Fire, Marvin Gaye, Minnie Riperton and Phyllis Hyman.
With all of these great artists I dove deep into the music and utilized it as my 'escape' from the reality in which I was dealt at the time. I started off with writing poetry, which to me is a form of music anyway. Eventually as a teenager, I got around other kids that were rapping and had dreams of taking it to the next level and that's ultimately where my skills began to develop. I'm forever inspired by the old school and will always continue to be. Over time, I've unearthed a 'vault' of my many other gifts and once I was able to step forward into a new direction I reconnected with myself and my purpose. . .
I'm called here to INSPIRE anyone that I can, anyone who would listen. Not only with my music but by my testimony - I have one hell of a story to tell. I'm not even out of my twenties yet, but I have an old spirit and I've been able to take all of the experiences that I've had in this short amount of time I've been here and keep hope that it'll reach someone out there who may be going through the same - no matter the age - and give them some light at the end of the tunnel.
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND TRUST!! The past never defines our lives unless we allow it to. Use it to recreate yourself and start a new cycle for yourself and kids if you have them. Create a whole new future. YOU GOT THIS and I'm right here with you all.
Until next time,
Be safe out there in this crazy world and let's normalize displaying love, compassion and kindness for others. Let's normalize having courage and praise strength. Peace.
JROSE SANTANA